News

Virgin Islands Native Returns to Lead UVI's Institutional Advancement

October 17, 2010

Dionne V. Jackson has been
selected as vice president for Institutional Advancement (IA) at
the University of the Virgin Islands. She will have oversight of
all of IA's areas, which include Annual Giving, Major Gifts, Alumni
Affairs, Public Relations and the Reichhold Center for the Arts.
Jackson has more than 10 years of higher education administration
experience.

A St. Thomas native, Jackson returns to UVI from the University
of Pennsylvania, where she was the associate director of Major
Gifts for the Provost's Area. In that position, Jackson launched a
new fundraising program, built a $5 million pipeline in two years,
and was personally responsible for soliciting gifts between $50,000
and $2 million. Prior to her position at the University of
Pennsylvania, Jackson served as assistant director of Corporate,
Foundation and Government Relations at Vassar College. In that
position she was instrumental in helping the college secure more
than $10 million in funds to support institutional and faculty
related activities.

"UVI is very fortunate to have someone with Ms. Jackson's
experience, dedication and love for the Virgin Islands at the helm
of our Institutional Advancement efforts," said UVI President Dr.
David Hall. "Ms. Jackson brings a sound understanding of best
practices in fundraising from some of the leading universities in
the country. Yet she also has a unique understanding of our alumni
base and the people of the Virgin Islands, whose support we
desperately need," Dr. Hall continued. "Her presence and dedication
make me extremely excited and confident about our fundraising
potential in the future."

Jackson is no stranger to UVI, having served as marketing
manager at the Reichhold Center and special events coordinator,
before leaving to further her education. She holds a Master of
Business Administration from Cornell University and a Master of
Fine Arts in Arts Management from Brooklyn College.

Jackson said she is very excited to return to UVI. "I grew up on
St. Thomas looking up to this institution. UVI was my inspiration
for pursuing a career in higher education administration," she
said. "This is what I've been working toward for the majority of my
career." Jackson made a deliberate decision to leave UVI, further
her education, gain very specific experience, then return to
contribute to the Territory. "This is not just a job; it's a call
to service," she said. "This is my way of giving back to a
community I love. I'm ready to go to work for UVI and the people of
this territory."

Strengthening UVI's relationships with its donors, alumni and
local community stakeholders is among Jackson's first priorities.
She explained that this is an exciting time for the University and
that she hopes to build a stronger culture of awareness and support
for the institution. "UVI is growing and we have very ambitious
goals. We must support this growth, the faculty, and our
students."

Jackson's vision is to help UVI stakeholders - the alumni and
the community at large - do their part to nurture and strengthen
the institution through engagement and philanthropy. Another
priority is launching a feasibility study in preparation for a
possible capital campaign.

She tells a story of her work at Penn, when colleagues
discouraged her from pursing a particular prospect whose family had
given to the university in the past, but had since felt
disenfranchised by the institution for almost two decades. Jackson
built a relationship with the prospect, who initially said she
would "not give a dime." After the course of a year and a half, the
prospect agreed to give a $1million. "It really demonstrates the
value of building and maintaining good relationships in this work,"
Jackson said. "You have to listen to individuals and let them know
they have a stake in the institution and that their ideas are
welcome; it's not just about their dollars," Jackson added. "People
are far more prone to invest in an institution's success when they
believe it is doing good work to benefit students and the wider
community."

Jackson is based on the St. Thomas campus. Her appointment began
on Sept. 15.

The University of the Virgin Islands is a learner-centered institution dedicated to the success of its students and committed to enhancing the lives of the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the wider Caribbean through excellent teaching, innovative research, and responsive community service. UVI is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Learn more about UVI ...